Have you ever wondered why the media outlets sometimes focus most of their zeal on reporting events that are of minor significance? For example, events that when put into perspective with tragedies, injustices, and philanthropic efforts, carry no substance. There are several factors at play that cause certain narratives to have a great global appeal, and also cause others to not share the same level of prominence.
For example, Barbara Keys, author of Globalizing Sport: National Rivalry and International Community in the 1930s, utilizes international sports competitions in the 1930s, and the intensity at which nations become engrossed in them to drive a point. She argues that as a result of the international competitions, nations became increasingly bound together in a common cultural pursuit. “The competitions grew from festivals of marginal significance into global mega-events that drew millions of fans, miles of column inches in newspapers, prime coverage in the emerging medium of radio—and the avid attention of politicians and diplomats.”1 The general philosophy of physical recreation—provided the world with what exponents celebrated as “a universal language.”2
The elements of meaningfulness, cultural proximity, and relevance as stated by Galtung/Ruge in “What is News?”3 are what caused the international sports competitions to have a relatively high news value.4 As the nations became highly consumed with the competitions, the meaningfulness and relevance increased as a result. As mentioned by Keys, ‘nations became increasingly bound together in a common cultural pursuit.’ This common cultural pursuit is winning, being declared the victor amongst the many other nations that participated; every nation aspires to be number one, but only one can earn that title. Therefore, the meaningfulness that the competitions had amongst each nation was significant. The cultural proximity is another element that caused the competitions to have a high news value. Many nations participated and “provided the world with what exponents celebrated as “a universal language.”5 These competitions were something that many people could relate to, even the likes of politicians and diplomats.
In closing, when the combination of elements such as cultural proximity, meaningfulness, and relevance are blended, they create “that which is worthy of being told; that which is susceptible of or class for narration”6—a narratable entity. These elements give the narrative a high news value, and cause them to be more prominent within the media, though other narratives may be of greater importance, however lack these vital factors. These elements are not unique to a narratable event, however a combination such as this, which attracts widespread social attention will create a high news value.
1Keys, Barbara. Globalizing Sport: National Rivalry and International Community in the 1930s Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2006. Print.
2Ebd.
3Galtung, Johan/Ruge, Mari Holmboe: The Source of Foreign News. The Presentation of the Congo, Cuba and Cyprus Crises in Four Norwegian Newspapers. Journal of Peace Research, vol.2 (1965), pp. 64-91.
Östgaard, Einar: Factors Influencing the Flow of News. In: Journal of Peace and Research 2 (1965), pp. 39-63.
4Harcup, Tony/O’Neill, Deirdre: What is News? Galtung and Ruge revisted. Jounalism Studies 2001, vol.2, no. 2, pp. 261-280
51Keys, Barbara. Globalizing Sport: National Rivalry and International Community in the 1930s Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 2006. Print.
6 Prince, Gerald: Narratable. In: Dictionary of Narratology, p. 56f.
On July 1st, 1903, sixty bike riders took part in the first ever Tour de France in Paris. It was organized by the sports magazine, “L’Auto” and directed by Henri Desgrange. The tour takes place in six stages from Paris to Paris via Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes. Initially in 18th place, cyclist Maurice Garin won the tour, with three hours ahead of his competitors. Of the 60 riders present at the start of the tour, only 20 crossed the finish line.1
Having provoked a mixture of astonishment and admiration, the Tour soon won over the sporting public and the roadside crowds swelled. The French people took to their hearts this unusual event, which placed their towns, their countryside and, since 1910, even their mountains, in the spotlight. It has opened itself up to foreign countries with the onset of globalization, and now finds itself at the forefront of the debate on the depression afflicting world sport in general. Over a hundred years after its inception, the Tour continues to gain strength from its experience.2
1 Roget, Romain. Garnier, Aurélie. The Start of the First Tour de France. Linternaute: Histoire. 2011. < http://bit.ly/dX8fAZ>. 04/03/11. Online.
2 Great Moments in the History of the Tour. Le Tour de France. 2011. 04/03/11. Online.
The kind of news that receives special attention within the French media is in regard to the French strategic national interest, glo
bal affairs, and sports. On April 3rd, 2011’s front page of lemonde.fr is highlighted a story concerning the well being of the French community living in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire; the recent victory of tennis player Djokovic; gas prices; the mentioning’s of a new prime minister in Syria, and many other international stories. Unlike the American news, the French news encompasses more international stories that will inform its people about what is happening elsewhere around the world.1
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